The Town FilesSwannanoa, North Carolina
Community in Buncombe County · population 5,021 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $287,500
- Household income
- $69,760
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 37.1
Swannanoa is a community of 5,021 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $287,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 87% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Swannanoa ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Swannanoa is worth $287,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $69,760, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $788 a month. 78.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swannanoa | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $287,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $788 | $969 |
| Median household income | $69,760 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Swannanoa
| People | Swannanoa | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Swannanoa
July highs average 76.1°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 53.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swannanoa since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 6, 1977 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Buncombe County since 1996
Buncombe County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Buncombe County
Buncombe County had 136,495 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,785 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Swannanoa itself the ACS puts it at 14.8%.
Public schools in Swannanoa
4 public schools with 1,441 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams Elementary | PK-5 | 465 | 13.7 |
| Owen Middle | 6-8 | 435 | 12.8 |
| ArtSpace Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 410 | 13.7 |
| Community High School | 7-12 | 131 | 7.7 |
Towns near Swannanoa
- Black Mountain, NC3.6 mi · 8,426 people · home $358,900
- Fairview, NC5.5 mi · 2,771 people · home $439,600
- Asheville, NC9.5 mi · 94,589 people · home $440,000
- Royal Pines, NC10.6 mi · 4,127 people · home $400,200
- Woodfin, NC11.6 mi · 7,936 people · home $366,700
- Weaverville, NC11.7 mi · 4,567 people · home $463,700
- Fletcher, NC13.4 mi · 7,987 people · home $331,100
- Mountain Home, NC17.2 mi · 3,490 people · home $400,000
Swannanoa questions
Is Swannanoa, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swannanoa scores better for retirees than 67% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 47%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Swannanoa?
The median owner-occupied home in Swannanoa is valued at $287,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,760, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $788 a month.
What is the weather like in Swannanoa?
July highs average 76.1°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.5 inches of snow.
Does Swannanoa get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swannanoa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 6, 1977. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)